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Generate Terraform configuration files from your Azure resources

While everyone is focusing all the announcements at Build 2025, I'm still processing some of the older recently announced features. A feature that I am happy that is finally available in preview is the Terraform export functionality in the Azure Portal.

A similar feature already exists for some time for ARM and Bicep but now we can finally export to Terraform configuration files as well.

Let’s give it a try…

A short walkthrough

  • Go to the Azure portal and browse to a specific resource. From there go to the Automation section and click on Export template.

  • Click on the Terraform tab. The first time I did this I got the error below:

 

  • The reason is that you first need to register the Microsoft.AzureTerraform resource provider at the subscription level.
  • Go to your Subscription in Azure. There open the list of Resource Providers.

 

  • Search for Microsoft.AzureTerraform resource provider and click on Register.

 

  • It can take some time before the resource provider got registered so be patient.

 

  • Once registration has completed, go back to the resource. Click on Export template again in the Automation section and this time you should get a Terraform configuration file on the Terraform tab:

 

    More information

    Announcing Public Preview of Terraform Export from the Azure Portal | Microsoft Community Hub

    Azure/aztfexport: A tool to bring existing Azure resources under Terraform's management

    Overview of the Azure Terraform Resource Provider | Microsoft Learn

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